Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) and their epidemiological importance. Literature review

Most of the phlebotomine sand fly species are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, some of them are also present in Europe and North America. Haematophagous species have epidemiological importance because their females transmit pathogens. Some species occurring in the Mediterrain Basin are biological vectors of Leishmania infantum, the pathogen of canine and humane leishmaniosis. Specimens of Phlebotomus macedonius (syn. P. perfiliewi) were caught at Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary in 1930s, that is also the vector of this parasite species. Since that time no data have been reported about the occurrence of phlebotomine sand flies in Hungary. The authors review the current literature on the vector sand fly species of animal- and public health importance. This publication was partially funded by EU grant GOCE-2003-010284 EDEN.